LEGAZPI CITY ? Supply of the cheapest government-subsidized rice, the P18.25-per-kilo variety, has been gradually disappearing in urban markets in the Bicol region since Thursday.

Lawyer Jose Guevarra, assistant regional director of the National Food Authority in Bicol, said the NFA was removing the low-priced variety from commercial markets to focus its distribution among the ?poorest of the poor.?

He said starting July 14, only the P25-per-kilo variety would be sold in public markets here.

Distribution of the P18.25-per-kilo rice variety would be limited to poor beneficiaries identified by village officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Guevarra said only the NFA rolling stores, DSWD Kalahi stores, Tindahan Natin, and Tindahan sa Parokya would be authorized to distribute the P18.25-per-kilo rice variety.

Guevarra, however, dismissed reports that a shortage was forcing the NFA to remove this type of rice from public markets.

?The public market is a converging point of all kinds of consumers. We want to limit subsidized rice distribution to those who really need it,? he added.

He added that Bicol was a priority recipient of monthly rice shipments from Vietnam and Thailand and has a supply of 1.6 million bags to last for 88 days.

?We have received early arrivals of rice imports in the first two quarters of the year since Bicol is calamity-prone. The remaining months are expected to be the typhoon season,? Guevarra said.

Guevarra said the prices of commercial rice still ranged from P33 to P42. He said rice prices were the result of prices of fuel and other basic commodities.